Zika Virus

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Zika virus infects people through the bite of a mosquito and can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Zika infection can cause serious or fatal birth defects in the children of pregnant women, and the virus can be transmitted sexually. Travel-related cases of Zika virus infection were confirmed in Mississippi in 2016-2017, but there have been no confirmed cases in 2018. No locally-transmitted cases have been reported in the state.

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Symptoms

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Eighty percent of cases display either no symptoms, or mild symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. The major risk is to the unborn children of pregnant women, who can suffer severe or fatal birth defects from Zika infection. Zika damages the brain of
a developing baby, causing it to be born with a much smaller head and brain (microcephaly), vision and hearing problems or other neurological disorders, or to be stillborn.

Where Zika is Found

In the last several years certain U.S. areas have been at risk for Zika transmission after residents were infected by travel to Zika-affected countries.
There are currently no U.S. areas under a Zika risk warning.

Sexual transmission

Because Zika can be transmitted sexually, men who have traveled to or who live in an area where Zika virus is actively being transmitted
should abstain from sex with pregnant women, or use condoms properly every time they have vaginal, anal, and oral sex for the duration
of the pregnancy. Men and women can transmit the virus sexually to partners of either sex. See the precautions for returning travelers below
for avoiding sexual transmission of Zika.

Advice for returning travelers

If you are returning home after traveling in an area where Zika virus is being actively transmitted, protect others by following these steps:

Take special precautions to avoid mosquito bites for three weeks after you return home in order to prevent the transmission of the Zika virus to local mosquitoes. This includes using mosquito repellent whenever you are outdoors, avoiding areas with mosquitoes, dressing in long pants and sleeves, and staying indoors as much as possible. Avoid yard work around standing water that may expose you to local mosquitoes.

Men should not have sex of any type with a pregnant woman for the duration of the pregnancy, or use condoms consistently until the end of pregnancy.

If only the male partner travels to an area with a Zika outbreak or a risk of Zika, the couple should use condoms or not have sex for at least three months after he returns, even if he doesn’t have symptoms or at least three months from the start of the male partner’s symptoms or the date he was diagnosed with Zika

If only the female partner travels to an area with a Zika outbreak or a risk of Zika, the couple should use condoms for at least 2 months after she returns or at least 2 months from the start of her symptoms or the date she was diagnosed with Zika

If both partners travel to an area with a Zika outbreak or risk of Zika, the couple should use condoms or not have sex for at least 3 months after returning from an area with a risk of Zika, even if they do not have symptoms or from the start of the male partner’s symptoms or the date he was diagnosed with Zika

Pregnant women should not have unprotected sex with any partner who has traveled to a Zika-affected area for the duration of her entire pregnancy.

Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant should talk to a healthcare provider about their travel even if they don’t feel sick or develop symptoms of the disease. If you develop a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes during your trip, or within two weeks after returning home, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Being tested for Zika

Your doctor or healthcare provider can arrange for Zika testing through the MSDH Public Health Laboratory.